Wave-motor.



Patented Nov. |'2 l9 0l.

6!. GEHRE. WAVE MOTOR.

(Application filed Aug. 7, 1901.)

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M. GEHRE.

WAVE moms. (Application filed Aug. 7, 1901.)

Patented Nov. I2, I90l.

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UNITED I STATES PATE T QFFICE.

MAX GEI-IRE, OF RATH, NEAR DUSSELDORF, GERMANY.

WAVE-MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,602, dated November 12, 1901.

Application filed August '7, 1901. Serial No. 71,141. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX GEHRE, a subject of the Duke of SaXe-Anhalt, residing in Bath, near Dusseldorf, Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wave- Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention provides an improvement in wave-motors, and especially in motors adapted to convert the movement of the waves into a continuous rotation of a transmitting-shaft which may be used to store poweras, for

' example, by the winding up of a clockwork which strikes a bell or in some other way produces an audible signal in a buoy, whereby the purpose of the buoy to give information as to the channel is fulfilled in the best possible way. In the preferred embodiment of my invention for accomplishing this purpose a buoy is anchored by means of hangers at oppositeends in such a way that it has a projecting or unbalanced portion-as, for example, a projecting wall-which when struck by a wave causes a turning of the body of the buoy about the points at which it is connected to the anchor. On turning in one direction a motion and power transmitting shaft in the buoy is turned by means of a pawl which is attached within the buoy. On the turning of the buoy in the opposite direction the ratchetwheel is prevented from turning backward by means of a stop-pawl, which is connected to a weight suspended from a shaft or pivot within the body of the buoy in such a way that the arm on which the weight is suspended is maintained in a Vertical position during the turning movement of the body, and the stop-pawl is held in a substantially fixed position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, representing embodiments of my invention,

Figures 1 and 2 show in cross-section and longitudinal section, respectively, an embodiment in which a projecting wall is attached to the body of the buoy. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same. Fig. 4 is an end view of a buoy having its body extended at one side. Figs.

5 and 6 show in cross-section and longitudi-' nal section, respectively, an embodiment in which the weight is hung within the body of the buoy. Figs. 7 and 8 show also in crosssection and longitudinal section an embodiment in which the body of the buoy is extended at one side to form aprojecting portion.

The buoy a is preferably anchored by means of hangers Z, attached at its ends, as shown, so as to permit it to turn about the points of attachment. In the body of the buoy, which may conveniently be made of sheet-iron, there is a shaft 10, carried in bearings from which a weight 0 hangs. A suitable transmittingshaft 'L' is arranged coaXially with the shaft to and carries a ratchet-wheel f, fixed thereon. The ratchet-wheel f is engaged by a stoppawl e, which is in connection with the weight 0- preferably by means of an arm (1, Fig. 2, connected to the shaft 10, or' by direct connection with the arm d, which supports the weight 0 from the shaft. Connected with the body a of the buoy there is a projecting por tion I), which may be either an attached projecting portion, as shown in Fig. 1, or may be a part of the body of the buoy, as shown I in Figs. 4 and 7. The purpose of this projection' or projecting portion of the body is to produce an oscillation of the buoy a about the shaft u; when the projection is struck by a wave pushing against it on its under side and then receding. An operating-pawl g is arranged to engage the ratchet-wheel f and turn it, this pawl being shown as pivoted to the inside of the body of the buoy at the upper part, so that it drops into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel f. By means of the stop-pawl e backward movement of the ratchet-wheel f is prevented.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 and 8, as stated, a separate arm d is connected to the shaft w and carries a stop-pawl e, the latter being held by a spring in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel f.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 5 and 6, however, the hanging arm d of the weight springs into position behind a tooth of the ratchet-wheel f in the rear of that which it previously engaged. \Vheu the body of the buoy turns in adirection opposite the arrow 1, the ratchet-wheelfis stopped by the stop-pawl e and the operating-pawl g slides back over one or more teeth of the wheel and drops behind a tooth in the rear of that which it previously engaged, whereby at the succeeding movement in the direction of the arrow 1 the ratchet-wheel will be again turned forward.

There is no obstacle to the movement of the ratchet-wheel under the action of the pawl g in the direction of the arrow 1, since the stoppawl e is held back and engages another tooth of the wheel, so that upon the opposite movement of the body of the buoy the ratchet-wheel and the shaft 2' move together.

The mechanism to be driven from the shaft 11 may be of any suitable nature and may be arranged in any suitable way, such mechanisms being well known and being omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that myinvention admits of various embodiments other than those specifically shown and described. I do not wish to be understood, therefore, as restricting myself to the specific embodiments of the invention disclosed, but desire to include all modifications thereof in which substantially the same means is used for obtaining substantially the same mode of operation.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a buoy, a wave-driven transmitting mechanism comprising in combination a body having a projecting portion at one side whereby it may be turned under the action ofa wave, a motion transmitting shaft in said body, ratchet mechanism for transmitting the motion of said body to said shaft when said body is turned in one direction, an arm pivotally mounted in said body and carrying a weight whereby it is held in a substantially vertical position, and a stop pawl engaging said ratchet mechanism and held in a substantially fixed position by said weight so as to prevent movement of said transmitting-shaft in the opposite direction.

2. In a buoy, a wave-driven transmitting mechanism comprising in combination a body having a projection at one side whereby it may be turned under the action of a wave, a motion transmitting shaft in said body, a ratchet-wheel fixed on said shaft, an operating-pawl attached to said body and arranged to turn said wheel when said body is turned in one direction, an arm pivotally mounted in said body and carrying a weight, whereby it is held in a substantially vertical position, and a stop-pawl engaging said wheel and held in a substantially fixed position by said weight so as to prevent said wheel turning in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAX GEI'IRE.

Witnesses:

J OHANNES HEIN, WOLDEMAR HAUPT. 

